Assistant Director, Employer Partnerships Co-op

DePaul University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waivers

Retirement matching

Health benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

DePaul University seeks an Assistant Director of Employer Relations - Co-op to cultivate employer partnerships for paid cooperative education opportunities for business undergraduates in Chicago. You will prospect, engage, and manage relations with employers, design co‑op opportunities, and coordinate postings and student recruitment.

Responsibilities include developing job descriptions with employers, coordinating events, and tracking placements while ensuring high-quality experiences for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Higher Education, or related field required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in employer relations, sales, business development, recruiting, talent acquisition, or account management.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for employer events.
• Experience in higher education career services, co-op/internship programs, or student affairs.
• Knowledge of Chicago business community and employer landscape.
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and job posting platforms (Handshake preferred).
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills; client-facing experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop employer partnerships across accounting, finance, and business sectors in Chicagoland and beyond.
• Manage a portfolio of employer accounts; coordinate co-op job development and postings on Handshake.
• Facilitate employer participation in career events and on-campus recruiting activities.
• Maintain accurate employer records in CRM; track placements and engagement metrics.

Job description

The Highlights:

The Assistant Director of Employer Relations - Co-op is responsible for cultivating and managing employer partnerships that generate paid cooperative education opportunities for DePaul University business undergraduates. This hands‑on, relationship-focused role involves prospecting new employers, managing a portfolio of existing partnerships, coordinating employer engagement activities, and ensuring students have access to high-quality co‑op placements.

What You'll Do:

1. Employer Prospecting & Partnership Development: Identifies and researches prospective employers in accounting, finance, and other business sectors across Chicagoland and beyond. Conducts targeted outreach to employers via phone, email, LinkedIn, and in‑person meetings to introduce DePaul's co‑op program. Delivers compelling presentations and consultative conversations that position the co‑op program as a strategic talent solutions. Qualifies leads and convert prospects into active employer partners committed to hosting co‑op students. Leverages alumni, parent, faculty, and donor networks to identify warm leads and partnership opportunities. Attends industry networking events, chamber of commerce meetings, and professional association gatherings to build relationships. Contributes to team goals of securing 500 employer relationships and 100 paid co‑op placements in Year 1.

2. Employer Relationship Management & Job Development: Manages a portfolio of employer accounts, serving as primary point of contact for partnership inquiries. Builds and maintains strong relationships with HR professionals, hiring managers, and business leaders. Works collaboratively with employers to develop co‑op job descriptions that align with student learning objectives and employer needs. Facilitates the posting of co‑op opportunities on Handshake and other platforms, ensuring accurate and compelling job descriptions. Supports employers through the student recruitment and selection process, including resume referrals, interview coordination, and hiring logistics. Conducts regular check‑ins with employer partners. Gathers feedback from employers on student performance and program quality.

3. Employer Programming: Coordinates employer participation in career fairs, information sessions, networking events, and on‑campus recruiting activities. Facilitate employer‑led workshops, career panels, mock interviews, and resume review sessions. Organizes industry‑specific events and career treks. Manage logistics for employer visits. Ensures exceptional employer experience at all touchpoints, from initial contact through event execution. Promotes employer events to students through collaboration with Career Coaching team and student organizations.

4. Data Management, Reporting & Administrative Support: Maintains accurate and up‑to‑date employer records in CRM systems (Salesforce, Handshake, or similar). Tracks employer interactions, job postings, student placements, and partnership outcomes. Generate reports on employer engagement metrics, job development progress, and placement data. Contributes to assessment efforts and continuous improvement initiatives. Assists with MOU documentation and partnership agreements. Supports team projects and initiatives.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Higher Education, or related field required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in employer relations, sales, business development, recruiting, talent acquisition, or account management.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for employer events.
• Experience in higher education career services, co‑op/internship programs, or student affairs.
• Knowledge of Chicago business community and employer landscape.
• Experience in sales, account management, or business development.
• Knowledge of accounting, finance, and business career pathways.
• Established network within Chicago business community.
• Experience with event planning and coordination.
• Strong relationship‑building and networking skills ability to connect with diverse professionals.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Sales or business development skills with ability to prospect, qualify leads, and close partnerships.
• Customer service orientation with commitment to employer and student satisfaction.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), job posting platforms (Handshake preferred), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Self‑motivated and results‑oriented with ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a startup program environment.
• Occasional travel to employer sites for student visits and relationship building.
• Fast‑paced, dynamic startup environment as program builds from inception.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is: $50,174 to $75,000/year.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Perks:

• Working for a stable and well‑known University.
• Top choice medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Retirement plan matching contribution of 8%.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
• Generous paid time off, sick time, holidays, floating holidays, and more!
• Full‑Time Benefits

Vincentian Mission:

Guided by an ethic of Vincentian personalism and professionalism, DePaul compassionately upholds the dignity of all members of its diverse, multi‑faith, and inclusive community. We seek to hire collaborative, open‑minded, and dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing our university mission to making education accessible to all, with special attention to including underserved and underrepresented communities. Successful candidates thrive in an environment where ideas and perspectives representing a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcome and supported.

Required Background Check:

Employment at DePaul University is contingent on passing a background check. Only final candidates who are extended an offer of employment will undergo a background check.

DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.